Moving into a care home can be daunting, especially if you’re moving from a house you’ve lived in for a long time.
No matter your reasons for moving, whether it’s a been a quick decision or something you’ve been thinking about for a long time, choosing the things you want to bring with you will inevitably be an emotional process.
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At a glance
- Plan and inspect beforehand: Visit your allocated room in advance to understand the space available, check what essentials are already provided by the care home, and plan how to arrange your belongings.
- Pack functional everyday essentials: Bring a two-week supply of comfortable, easily washable clothing, your preferred personal care and hygiene products, and any necessary electronics for entertainment and keeping in touch.
- Personalise your space for comfort: Bring familiar items, photographs, decorations, or even approved pieces of fire-retardant furniture to make your new room feel like home and aid the transition.
- Manage unneeded items proactively: Sort through belongings that won’t fit ahead of time, considering passing sentimental items to loved ones, renting storage space, or selling and giving away excess possessions
We have compiled a detailed list of suggestions and advice to help you navigate the moving process.
At the bottom of the page, you can download the checklist in PDF format to print out a physical copy.
Before you start to think about what you need to pack, try to:
Visit the room before you move in
Visiting your room will allow you to get a feel for how much space there is. It can also help to make the move less daunting as you’ll be familiar with your new space.
When visiting, think about how you might like to decorate and arrange the room; you can plan where you’d like your pieces of furniture if you plan to bring any, or consider how you want your trinkets displayed.
Furnishing and decorating your room in a similar way to your home is a good way to help you settle in and feel more at home in the new environment and items of personal value can help bring back memories you have created over the decades.
Find out what is included in the price
Most care homes provide the basic necessities as part of your fees; things like furniture to store your clothing and sheets for your bed, but the specific facilities will differ between settings. Speak to the care home in advance to find out what’s included; this will help you to identify what you need to bring, and then you can work out what extra things you’d like to make you feel more at home.
Care home packing list
Below is a detailed list of suggestions that can help you pack for moving into a care home.
Clothing
Clothing for two weeks is recommended, including clothes for day and night, activities and events. Ideally, clothes should be comfortable, easy to take on and off and remember that they need to withstand frequent washing and drying. Accessories can help you keep your identity and in control of your own style.
- Jumpers
- Trousers/ skirts/ dresses
- Tops/t-shirts
- A couple of pieces of clothing for parties and events
- Coats for winter and spring/autumn
- A few sets of night clothes
- Dressing gown
- Socks/ tights and underwear
- Slippers or other indoor shoes
- Two pairs of shoes
- Active wear for exercise classes and activities such as gardening
- Accessories such as hats, scarves, purses
Top tip: Make sure every item is labelled, especially clothing. This not only helps the housekeeping team return belongings to the right person, but it can also help people living with dementia to identify their own things.
Personal care and hygiene
It’s a good idea to bring toiletry and personal care products that you are familiar with and enjoy using. Not only do care homes often charge extra for these things, but most people also have their favourites when it comes to soaps and shampoos.
- Medicine
- Soap
- Shampoo and conditioner (wet or dry)
- Make-up
- Perfume
- Toothbrush
- Toothpaste
- Deodorant
- Body lotion and moisturisers
- Shaving equipment and products
- Hairbrush and/or comb
- Hair styling products such as hair pins and clips
Bedding
Care homes cover most of this, but if you have personal preferences of style and material, you might want to bring along your own bedding. Speak to the team at the care home so you know what the situation is and make sure what you bring can be laundered.
- Blanket
- Quilt
- Throw
- Small lap blanket
- Linen
- Towels
- Pillows and pillowcases
Electronics
Electronic devices can be a good way to stay connected to family and friends and provide you with entertainment and information. Some care homes provide a TV, if not, speak to the home and ask if you can bring one. Don’t forget chargers and cords.
- TV with remotes
- Radio
- Tablet
- Mobile phone
- Laptop
- DVD player
- Extension cord
- Headphones
Furniture
Some care homes encourage residents to bring along their own pieces of furniture. If this is possible, it’s worth taking up the offer. Although it might seem like a big task, introducing your own furniture gives you more chance to fully personalise your space and keep items that may be sentimental to you.
It can also be of great benefit to people living with dementia as they will feel more familiar with their surroundings. To comply with safety regulations, make sure the furniture is fire retardant.
You could bring items such as:
- Lounge chair
- Desk
- Wardrobe
- Chest of drawers
- Nightstand
- Bookshelf
- Lamp
Decoration and personal items
Giving your room a personal touch can really help you settle in and make your space feel more familiar. Personal items such as family heirlooms and ornaments can also help you reminisce and make the room feel more like a home, as well as being great talking points for care home staff and other residents to get to know you better.
- Paintings and photographs
- Photo album
- Ornaments
- Books and films
- Magazines
- Hobbies – puzzles, games, knitting
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What to do with items you can’t bring?
Unavoidably, there will be items you won’t be able to take with you due to the care home’s limited space. However, this doesn’t mean that you have to get rid of everything. Items that hold emotional value could be passed on to trusted friends and family, such as jewellery or invaluable furniture.
One alternative is to arrange storage space for your items, which is particularly useful in respite care situations. This can reduce the stress that comes with packing as you will still be in control of what happens to your beloved items.
If you are in a position where you need to give away or sell items, try to do this in advance. This will give you time to work through the emotions before it’s time to move.
Download the care home packing list as PDF for printing
Moving into a care home is a big step, and knowing what to pack can make the transition much easier. Our handy packing list helps you stay organised and ensures you bring the everyday essentials and personal touches that will help you feel at home.
Download care home packing list PDF
Next steps
- Check what’s included: Contact the care home in advance to confirm which basic furniture, bedding, and toiletries are already provided so you know exactly what you need to bring.
- Visit the room and plan: Inspect your new room to measure the available space, figure out how to arrange your personal items, and ensure any furniture you want to bring meets fire safety regulations.
- Download and organise your packing list: Download the printable care home packing list to help sort your clothes, personal care items, electronics, and sentimental belongings before moving day.
FAQs
How do I make my care home feel like home?
To make your care home feel more like home when you move in, you can bring items of emotional value with you, sentimental value items may include an item of furniture, you can even try to replicate the look of your old bedroom by bringing familiar items such as framed photos, own bedlinen and use a similar colour scheme.
Why is it a good idea to personalise your care home room?
Moving into a care home can be daunting. Making your new surroundings feel like home can make the big step a little smaller and helps you keep your identity. Personalising your room through decorating and furnishing can bring comfort, help you settle in better and come to terms with the situation.
Can you have your own TV in a care home?
Many care homes offer TVs in residents’ bedrooms, but if this isn’t the case at your chosen residence, you should be able to take your own TV with you. All electrical items will be safety tested first and you may have to arrange your own TV license.
Can you bring furniture into a care home?
Many care homes allow you to bring your own furniture to personalise your room. Some have pieces of furniture which hold sentimental value which can add to the homely feel. It is important to remember that any furniture must be fire retardant for health and safety reasons.
What can you bring into a care home to promote independence?
Staying as independent as possible can benefit your wellbeing. Things such as a kettle to make a hot drink whenever you want or material for hobbies are small things that can have a big impact on your day-to-day life in a care home.